Oil-well plug.



J. T. HALL.

OIL WELL PLUG. APPLICATION FILED MAY 8, 1913.

1,1 17,669, Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

L v f FT /6 I I 3 /4 6 WITNESSES:

' h ATTORNEY QFFICE.

JAMES '1'. HALL, OF COALINGA, CALIFORNIA.

OIL-WELL PLUG.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

Application filed May 8, 1913. Serial No. 766,281.

To all whom it ma concern:

Be it known t at I, James T. HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Coalinga, in the county of Fresno and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oil-\Vell Plugs, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates more particularly to that type of plugs known in oil well boring industry as a heaving plug that is a plug introduced within the well casing or tube at any suitable point to pre vent the heaving sand and gas rising within the casing and clogging the same against the free flow of oil therein, although the plug eral y in plugging the well casing to out 01f the flow of oil and water therein, equally so in plugging the open end of the casing while cementin the same for changing the diameter o the casin and to pack the well against the inflow 0 water into the casing; the object of the invention bein the production of a sim 1e and effective p ug for automatically 100 the interior wall surface of the casin on an upward strain being placed thereon, t e construction whereof is such that the greater the strain placed onto the plug the firmer becomes the lock union between the said plulg and the casing.

o comprehend the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of an oil well with the casing therein, illustrating the plug in locked position within the casing adjacent the bottom thereof. Fig. 2 is a broken detail view of the plug removed from the casing, illustrating the position assumed by the valve therein as the plug is being lowered within the casing. Fig. 3 is a similair view disclosing a modification of the ug. in the drawings, the numeral 1 is used to designate an oil well; 2 the casing fitted therein, and 3 the plug ,for closing the casing against the inflow of the heaving sand and gas, which, if not restrained, moves upwardly within the casing to such an extent as to cause the sanding and destruction of the'well.

The plug 3 is of cylindrical form and of a diameter slightly less than the interior diameter of the casing in order to move freely within the said casing as lowered therein by the tool rod 4 attached to the eye 5 of the is equally as well adapted for use gening by friction contact with t valve stem 6. There is provided in the plug an annular race-way 7, in which is fitted a series of movable members 8, preferably in the form of bearing balls, the said movable members on an upward strain being placed onto the plug riding on the upwardly inclined wall surface 9 of the plug 3 and frictionally engagin the inner wall surface of the casing to holc the said plug locked to the casing against upward movement.

Through the plug is formed a central passage 10, in the upper end portion of which is ormed a valve seat 11. In the said valve seat is fitted a vertically movable valve 12, the stem 6 of which extends through a bore- 12' and works throu h a guide 13 carried by a bridge piece 14. he lower end 6 of the stem works through a uide 15 within the passageway 10 for ho ding the valve 12 against lateral displacement in its movements toward and from the valve seat 11, the said valve being normall held to its seat b 1 the pressure of the spring 16.

In lowering the plug toward the bottom of the casin there is usually from one to several hun red feet of fluid in the casing through which the plug must pass. Inasmuch as there is but slight clearance space between the plug and the interior wall surface of the casing, the fluid would pass but slowly above the plug were it not for the valved passa eway 10. However, the pressure of the aid acting against the under face of the plug 3 raises the same against the action of the rod 4 and spring 16 to unseat the valve from its seat 11 and gives a free flow for the oil through the passageway 10, permitting the plug to move easily through the body of oil until properly positioned relative to the casing, when an u ward strain is placed onto the tool rod 4, breaking the connection between the same and the eye 5 of the valve stem. This upward strain tends to raise the plug 3 causing the frictional members 8 to move downwardly on the inclined surface 9 of the plug and by so doing to be forced outwardly into frictional engagement with the interior wall surface thus securely locking the plug in adjustedposition relative to the said casing. The moment the downward pressure of the tool rod onto the valve stem 6 is released, the tension of the 5 ring 16 exerts itself to force upwardly an seat the valve 12 to elm the assage way 10 against the by-pae ng of oi It will be understood that when plugging of the casing,

the casing 2 against the heaving sand, the plug 3 is positioned adistance below the oil inlets or perforations 17 for the inflow of oil into the casing. However, when the plugis Hsed inconnection with the work of cementing the casing to prevent water flowing-into the same. the plug is lowered to proper position and locked to the casing by exerting a sudden upward pull onto the tool rod to break its connection with the plug.

While the plug is free to move downwardly to any given point Within the casing, it is automatically thrown into locked engagement therewith against upward movement on an upward strain being placed thereon, and the greater the upward strain the firmer the plug becomes locked to the casing.

The plug illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, is the same as that disclosed by Figs. 1, and 2, with the exception that a plurality of race-ways 7 are provided instead of a single race-way, in which race-ways the movable members 8 are arranged for working on the inclined surfaces 9*;

When it is desired to plug the casing, the plug 3 is first inserted for a slight distancesayfor one-half its length in the upper end of the casing and the movable members or balls 8 then inserted within the casing so as to lie within the race-way 7 between the inner wall of the casing and the inclined wall portion 9 of the race-way, after which the plug is lowered the desired distance within the casing. On its downward movement the movable members 8 will -move freely within the reduced portion of the race-way, but the moment an efiort is made to force upwardly the said plug, the movable members will frictionally engage the inner wall of the casing and be forced outwardly by the inclined surface of the race-way until they bind firmly onto the casing and lock the plug thereto against upward movement. To release the plu (which is constructed of any suitable lig t material) in order to open the casing, it is only required to strike the same with any suitable form of a drill tool, thus breaking or destroying the plug.

While the construction of the plug herein shown and described is preferred, owing to the simplicity and effectiveness thereof, still I do not wish to be understood as confining the invention to such details of construction, being fully aware that changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention. Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to benromct/edby Letters Patent is: 0

l. A plug for oil well casings, the same comprising a body portion provided throughout its length with a valve controlled passageway for the flow of oil therethrough and also provided circumferentially with an annular race-way having an upwardly inwardly inclined wall surface, a plurality of movable ball members within said race-way for frictional engagement within the inner wall of the casing, and means for positioning the plug relative to the well casing.

2. A lug for'oil well casings, the same comprising a body portion provided centrally throughout its length with an upwardly opening valve controlled passageway for the flow of oil therethrough and also provided circumferentially with an upwardly inwardly inclined wall surface, a

spring for seating said valve, a plurality of frictional ball members movable on said surface for lock engagement with the inner wall of the casing on an upward pressure exerted on said plug after its insertion within a well casing, and means for positioning the plug' relative to the well casing.

3. A. plug for oil well casings, the same comprising a body portion provided throu hout the length thereof with a passage-way or the flow of oil therethrough, a vertically movable valve controlling said passage-way, a spring acting against said valve to seat the same, an annular race-way formed on the exterior surface of the plug, an upwardly inwardly inclined wall surface for said raceway, a plurality of movable'members acting against said surface, and means for positioning the plug relative to the well casing.

4. A plug for oil well casings, the same comprising a body provided exteriorly with an upwardly and inwardly inclined wall surface, frictional lock members movable on said wall surface, said plug being provided with a passa e extending throughout the length thereo for the flow of oil therethrough, and a valve mounted within theplug for controlling the said passage.

5. A plug for oil well casings, same.

comprising a body provided circumferentially with an annular race-way having an upwardly inwardly inclined wall surface, a plurality of friction balls movable on the inclined wall surface of the race-way, and said plug being provided with a valve controlled passage-way within the same for the passage of oil therethrough.

lln testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES T. HALL. Witnesses:

Hanna A. To'mnn, D. Rronmnns will 

